About this document This consultation concerns the use and regulation of 118 numbers. These are telephone numbers that are used exclusively for directory enquiry (DQ) services. Prices for calls to DQ services on the 118 range have risen significantly in recent years. In May 2017, Ofcom opened a Call Cost review to examine the rising cost of calling DQ services to ensure that prices are fair and transparent for consumers.

In this consultation, we set out the findings of our review and invite views on our proposals to impose a price cap on DQ service charges to protect consumers.

1 1. Executive summary 1.1 Telephone directory enquiry (DQ) services are provided on 118 numbers. They are used by consumers who are looking for telephone numbers for individuals, businesses and public services. 1.2 Prices for calls to DQ services have risen significantly in recent years. In May 2017, Ofcom opened its Call Cost Review to examine the rising cost of calling DQ services. 1.3 Our review has found that while the number of DQ calls are falling, consumers use DQ services when they have few alternatives and when finding the number is important to them. Consumers also call the number they can remember, rather than shopping around for the cheapest deal.

We found that as charges have been increasing, there has been a decrease in the advertising of DQ services and their associated prices. This has resulted in poor price transparency and consumers paying much more than they expect. 1.4 Ofcom is therefore proposing to take action to protect consumers. This consultation sets out our proposal to change the regulation of 118 numbers to introduce a price cap on the amounts DQ providers can charge consumers.

The prices consumers pay for DQ services have risen steeply while there has been little advertising of DQ services 1.5 Ofcom carried out a review of consumers’ understanding of the prices they pay for DQ services in 2013. We decided to change the structure of retail prices and to require the prices charged by DQ providers to be published whenever they advertised their telephone DQ services. 1.6 We also proposed a maximum price cap on the amount that DQ providers could charge for calls. We had been concerned that for an initial period following the introduction of our proposed new pricing structure, some DQ providers might take advantage of potential consumer uncertainty about the proposed pricing structure and set very high prices in the absence of a price cap.

However, we received strong representations from the two largest DQ providers, BT and The Number UK Limited (TNUK) in response to our price cap proposal. They highlighted the particular characteristics of the sector, notably the importance of marketing and brand promotion in driving consumer interest in, and recollection of, DQ services. At the time there was little evidence of bill shock. We therefore decided not to implement our price cap proposal. We concluded that the price publication requirements would be particularly effective in raising consumer awareness of DQ prices and would reduce the risk that prices would rise.

1.7 However, since we announced these decisions in 2013, DQ prices have risen steeply. The price of the most popular DQ service, 118 118, has risen more than four-fold in real terms.

2 A one-minute call to 118 118 now costs £8.98.1 Other providers charge as much as £15.98 per call.2 In 2013, both BT and TNUK argued that a price cap would inhibit investment and innovation in DQ services but we have seen no evidence of material innovation or service development since then, despite the high prices consumers are paying. 1.8 There are cheaper DQ services available.

Virgin Media customers are able to make 10 free calls a day to Virgin Media’s DQ services, O2 charges £1.25 for a one-minute call to its DQ service and BT recently cut its prices by over 50% so it now charges £2.32 for a one-minute call. However, in a consumer survey carried out last year, we found that callers tend not to shop around – the majority either call the only number they know or the first number that comes to mind. Only 3% said that they chose a DQ service because it was the cheapest. 1.9 For those who wish to use DQ services, the improvement in consumer price awareness predicted by DQ providers in 2013 has failed to materialise.

The requirement to publish prices has not been effective since there is very little advertising of DQ services – both BT and TNUK, which account for the majority of DQ call volumes, stopped marketing their DQ services to any material degree in 2015. Although TNUK advertises its online directory service (118118.com) and money service (118118 Money) which helps to promote brand awareness, the regulatory obligation to include its prices for its telephone DQ service does not apply since the telephone service is not being marketed.

1.10 Use of DQ services has fallen sharply, with call volumes decreasing by about 40% a year between 2013 and 2017. We found 2% of UK adults still used DQ services in the last year, rising to 4% for over 65s. Our research found that there are circumstances when consumers are more likely to make use of DQ services, namely where they do not have internet access or where other alternative means of finding the information they need are limited. We found that 82% of consumers said it was important they received the telephone number they were looking for at the time they requested it. The most commonly requested numbers were to health and government/public services followed by residential numbers.

We therefore consider that despite the small number of users, directory enquiries provides an important service for consumers. Consumer understanding of current DQ prices is very poor 1.11 Our survey found that consumers’ understanding of the level of current DQ prices is very poor. On average, both users and non-users significantly under-estimate the cost of a call lasting just under one minute. The average estimate by DQ users is £1.95 for a call from a landline and £2.36 from a mobile while the average estimates by those who haven’t called a DQ service in the last 12 months are even lower - £1.18 from a landline and £1.55 from a mobile.

1 All prices quoted are service charges including VAT and excluding access charges. For consumers the total cost of a call to a 118 number is the access charge of the relevant communication provider plus the service charge of the relevant DQ service provider. The access charge is almost always a smaller proportion of the total cost of a DQ call than the service charge. Ofcom continues to monitor the level of access charges. 2 We are aware of 8 DQ numbers charging £15.98 per call plus 7.99 per minute (after the first 60 seconds).

3 Many DQ users experience bill shock 1.12 Given current price levels, poor price transparency and the fact that consumers tend not to shop around, consumers calling DQ services may be charged high prices but may not know about this until their phone bill arrives.

This is evidenced by the high levels of bill shock that we have found associated with DQ calls. Our consumer survey showed that just under 40% of DQ users experienced unexpectedly high bills in relation to at least one DQ call in the previous 12 months. This equates to about 450,000 adults in the UK paying, we estimate, around £2.4 million in excess of expectations. 1.13 These features may also hamper the ability of some consumers to access an affordable DQ service while others may face affordability issues, such as being unable to pay their phone bill, as a result of DQ charges. In addition, we are concerned that the ability to charge high prices for DQ services has increased incentives for misuse.

Our price cap proposal 1.14 In view of the consumer harm we have found, we consider that it is necessary for Ofcom to intervene by imposing a cap on the price that DQ providers can charge for their services. Taking account of consumer expectations of DQ prices and prices at the time of our review in 2013 (when there was little evidence of bill shock), we consider that the appropriate level of the cap is around £3 for a 90-second call (roughly the average length of a DQ call). 1.15 As noted, BT (the second largest DQ provider) reduced its DQ charges on 1 June 2018 so that the cost of a call to its 118 500 DQ service now equates to £3.10 for a 90-second call.

We welcome this move on the part of BT, which is in the interests of consumers. In the interests of pragmatism and with a view to securing, as far as possible, speedy implementation of the price cap in order to reduce the scope for further consumer harm, we are proposing a cap that is consistent with the existing price point that BT has now moved to.

1.16 We are therefore consulting on the introduction of a price cap on charges for DQ services of £3.10 per 90 seconds of a DQ call (including VAT).3 4 1.17 Given the levels of consumer harm we have identified and the rapidly declining sector, we consider that we need to act swiftly. We recognise, however, that there are certain changes to billing systems that industry will have to make in response to a cap. Therefore, we propose a 4-month implementation period after our final statement is published. Next steps 1.18 We invite comments on our findings of consumer harm and our proposal to implement a price cap to address this.

The deadline for responses is 22 August 2018. 3 Service charge cap will be set excluding VAT.

4 The prices in May 2018 of a 90 second call: £11.23 for 118 118 (TNUK) and Maureen (118 212); Telecom2 (118 004) is £19.98 and O2 (118 402) is £1.88.

4 1.19 We aim to publish our conclusions before the end of 2018.

5 2. Introduction and background Introduction 2.1 This consultation concerns the use and regulation of 118 numbers. These are telephone numbers that are used exclusively for the provision of DQ services. 2.2 Prices for calls to directory services on the 118 range have risen significantly since Ofcom last reviewed the regulation of these services in 2013.5 In May 2017, Ofcom decided to look at this, opening its Call Cost review to ensure that prices are fair and transparent for consumers.

2.3 In this section we explain the structure of prices for DQ services and how these resulted from the decisions we reached following our 2013 review. We also explain why we decided at that time against imposing a price cap on the amounts that DQ providers can charge.

2.4 At the end of the section, we outline our powers to regulate charges for DQ services and the circumstances when we may do so. Prices for directory enquiry services 2.5 DQ services are retail services provided by telephone to consumers and businesses that give callers the telephone number of the particular individual, business or public service they are looking for. In the UK, these services are provided on the 118 number range. 2.6 DQ services are supplied by service providers (SPs). Some SPs are also communications providers (CPs) such as BT, Virgin or O2 but others, such as Maureen and Yell, are not.

2.7 The retail price for a call to a 118 number is made up of the service charge and the access charge. This is known as the “unbundled tariff”. The service charge is typically set by the SP and represents the price of the DQ service called; the caller’s CP sets the access charge, which is the amount charged for the telephone service connecting the call. 2.8 For most DQ services, the service charge is much higher than the CP’s access charge.6 The most popular DQ service, 118 118, has a service charge of £8.98 for the first minute of the call and £4.49 for each subsequent minute; there are 8 DQ providers which charge £15.98 5 Ofcom conducted this review as part of its wider review of non-geographic telephone numbers which it carried out between 2010 and 2013 (the NGCS review).

For the purposes of this consultation, the most relevant documents published by Ofcom as part of this review are: Simplifying Non-Geographic Numbers, consultation, 4 April 2012; Service Charge Caps for 09 and 118 Services: Consultation on maximum Service Charges for PRS and Directory Enquiries services in the unbundled tariff regime, 25 July 2012 (“July 2012 Consultation”); Simplifying non-geographic numbers: Policy position on the introduction of the unbundled tariff and changes to 080 and 116 ranges, 15 April 2013 (“April 2013 Policy Position”); Simplifying non-geographic numbers: Final statement on the unbundled tariff and making the 080 and 116 ranges free-tocaller, 12 December 2013 (“December 2013 statement”).

6 Although the current review focusses on the service charge element of the call price, we will continue to monitor levels of access charges as we committed to do during the previous review outlined below.

6 for the first minute of the call and £7.99 for each subsequent minute.7 The access charges of the main CPs range from about 10.5p a minute to 55p a minute.8 2.9 The service charge for a 118 call may have one of four different charging structures: i) a one off per call charge (ppc) only, which is the same regardless of the length of the call. This is often referred to as a “connection charge”; ii) a per minute charge (ppm) only, calculated by reference to the length of the call in seconds starting from the beginning of the call; iii) a per call charge plus a per minute charge, calculated by reference to the length of the call in seconds from the beginning of the call; iv) a per call charge plus a per minute charge calculated by reference to the length of the call in seconds from the beginning of the second minute of the call.

Under this structure, where a call lasts less than 60 seconds, the caller will only be charged the per call charge.

2.10 The analysis we have undertaken shows that the majority of DQ providers (73.2% by call volumes and 96.5% by revenue), including The Number UK (TNUK) and BT, used option 4.9 2.11 In addition to the price structures described above, SPs must choose their service charges based on a list of 100 price points, which all CPs are required to make available in their billing systems.10 As of September 2017, only 36 of these price points were in use for 118 services, with the three most popular price points being SC087, SC070 and SC038. Prior to BT’s price reduction on 1 June 2018, the three price points provided in the table below accounted for 89% of call volumes and 91% of all 118 service charge revenues.

9 As explained elsewhere, BT have now adopted option 3 for 118 500. 10 See the obligations imposed by GC 17.31 and 17.32. The 100 price points must reflect the volume and range of demand from SPs (on all relevant non-geographic number ranges). The list of existing 100 price points can be found on BT’s website: http://www.bt.co.uk/pricing/current/Call_Charges_boo/FrameworkImpl1350581.h tm. 11 SPs using this price point include TNUK (118 118) and Maureen (118 212). 12 SPs using this price point include Yell (118 247), 192.com (118 119) and prior to 1 June 2018, BT (118 500) (For BT’s new service charges for 118 500, see paragraph 3.13

7 SC03813 ppm only 0 £1.50 Ofcom’s 2013 review of 118 numbers and other non-geographic numbers 2.13 The current price structure for calls to DQs on 118 numbers was one of the outcomes of the Non-Geographic Call Services (NGCS) Review, December 2013.14 This review looked at the regulation of several non-geographic number ranges, including the 080, 084, 087 and 09 ranges, in addition to 118 numbers. 2.14 As a result of the NGCS review, Ofcom decided that charges at the time for calls to these number ranges were confusing for consumers. They did not know how much calls cost and this caused them to under and over-use these services.

We said that this undermined innovation and service availability. We said that information about prices could be confusing or hard to obtain and that these problems weakened competition.15 2.15 As a result of these findings, we introduced a package of remedies. In relation to the 118 number range, we introduced the unbundled tariff price structure and additional transparency obligations for CPs and SPs about their charges. We said that the changes would enable consumers to know how much they were paying to their CP and how much to the SP.16 2.16 The changes required SPs to include their service charge in a prominent position in any promotion or marketing of the DQ service with the 118 number.

This requirement was intended to enable consumers to understand the charges and, where appropriate, remember them.17 In its response to our consultation proposal, TNUK said “118 SPs invest hugely in marketing their designated numbers in order to aid memorability. Effectively the number becomes the brand name and nowhere is this more true than for TNUK.” 18 described the price publication measure as “important” and said it would “significantly improve transparency"19 while BT observed that it was “aimed directly at improving consumers’ understanding of charges and should lead to increased confidence in these services”20.

8 2.17 We considered that for the 118 range in particular, the unbundled tariff and transparency measures would encourage direct competition on the service charge element of the call.21 2.18 We anticipated that these changes would provide significant benefits to consumers: clearer prices, better competition between providers, and reinvigorated consumer confidence in using these numbers and in turn, for DQ providers to offer new and innovative services.22 No price caps for 118 number range 2.19 In line with our proposals for the service charge for other non-geographic number ranges that we examined as part of the NGCS review, we initially proposed caps on the maximum service charge for DQ services.23 The caps we proposed were £3 per minute (where the SC comprises or includes a per minute charging rate) and £5 (where the SC comprises a per call charging rate.) We said that the combination of poor price transparency and the potential availability of higher revenues on the range gave rise to a greater risk of bill shock, fraud and bad debt as a result of unpaid bills and that the caps would guard against this.24 Although we considered that the best approach to secure access to affordable DQ services was the introduction of the unbundled tariff, we observed that this consideration would point towards lower rather than higher caps and that the caps we were proposing would avoid “demonstrably exploitative pricing”.25 2.20 Two SPs objected strongly to the maximum price caps we proposed for the 118 range – TNUK and BT.

2.21 TNUK contested that prices would rise following implementation of the unbundled tariff and said that they agreed with Ofcom’s view that the new price structure would increase competition and place a downward pressure on prices.26 TNUK contended that service quality, variety and innovation would inevitably be damaged by the imposition of the caps.27 2.22 BT said that there was a wide range of prices for DQ services, reflecting the differing preferences of consumers and the competitiveness of the sector. It said it was difficult to see how the sector could become any more competitive and observed that a DQ service provider wishing to drive interest in its services was required to make its pricing clear in promotions.

It said there was no justification for Ofcom’s view that there was a material risk of pricing becoming exploitative without capping. It also considered that the caps would make innovation and development far less likely.28 21 April 2013 Policy position, “Part B” paragraphs 8.22 and 8.39 https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0031/47767/condoc.pdf 22 April 2013 Policy position, paragraphs 1.23 - 1.24. 23 July 2012 consultation.

9 2.23 Having considered these responses (as well as those of other respondents), we decided that caps on service charges for DQ services could not be justified. We gave the following reasons for this: i) First, noting the importance of marketing and brand promotion in driving consumer interest in, and recollection of 118 services, we considered that the new price publication obligations on service providers could be effective in securing price transparency.

ii) Second, there was no evidence of fraud on the 118 range and little evidence of bill shock. Further, we said that available evidence suggested that the level of bad debt on the range was lower than average for non-geographic calls, and for all calls. iii) Last, we said the characteristics valued by consumers of 118 services were speed and convenience and so there were fewer incentives for long calls or repeat calling patterns.29 2.24 However, we noted that the new unbundled tariff regime could change the nature of existing constraints on retail charges for 118 numbers. Therefore, we said we would monitor the situation and reconsider the need for regulatory intervention in relation to the pricing of 118 services.30 Call Cost Review 2017 2.25 Since the new unbundled price structure was introduced, there have been substantial increases in the service charges imposed by some DQ Providers.

Ofcom launched the Call Cost Review in May 2017 to ensure prices are fair and transparent to consumers. 2.26 We set out in section 3 of this document the findings of consumer harm that we have made from the evidence we have gathered in the course of this review. In section 4, we explain our proposal to impose a price cap on service charges for DQ services in response to these findings.

2.27 Our Call Cost Review has been conducted within the framework of Ofcom’s powers and duties in respect of the use of telephone numbers. These are set out in more detail at Annex 9. They include: a) Ofcom’s duty to include in the National Telephone Numbering Plan any requirements which Ofcom considers appropriate for the protection of consumers in relation to tariff principles and maximum prices applicable to numbers listed in the Plan; and b) the related power to set general conditions, imposing tariff principles and maximum prices for the purpose of protecting consumers in relation to the provision of electronic communications services provided by means of telephone numbers.

10 2.28 These were the statutory provisions on which Ofcom intended to rely when it proposed the imposition of price caps on the service charges for DQ services on the 118 number range in 2012. Impact assessment and equality impact assessment Impact assessment 2.29 The analysis presented in this document constitutes an impact assessment as defined in section 7 of the Act. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) 2.30 Annex 11 sets out our EIA for this review. Ofcom is required by statute to assess the potential impact of all our functions, policies, projects and practices on race, disability and gender equality.

EIAs also assist us in making sure that we are meeting our principle duty of furthering the interests of citizens and consumers regardless of their background or identity.

2.31 We have considered whether our proposal would have an adverse impact on promoting equality. In particular, we have considered whether the proposals would have a different or adverse effect on UK consumers and citizens with respect to the following equality groups: age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation, and, in Northern Ireland, political opinion and dependants. We consider that our proposals will not have a detrimental impact on any equality group. 2.32 Further, we do not propose to carry out separate EIAs in relation to race or gender equality or equality schemes under the Northern Ireland and Disability Equality Schemes.

This is because we anticipate our proposed regulatory intervention would not have a differential impact on people of different genders or ethnicities, consumers with protected characteristics in Northern Ireland or on disabled consumers compared to consumers in general.

2.33 We consider that the proposals set out in this consultation would further the aim of advancing equality of opportunity between different groups in society by furthering the interest of all consumers using DQ services.

11 3. Evidence of harm 3.1 Ofcom carried out a review of consumers’ understanding of the prices they pay for DQ services in 2012-2013. Taking account of the representations we had received from TNUK and BT following our initial proposal to impose a cap on service charges for DQ calls, we decided not to introduce a cap. Our expectation was that the new regulations we were introducing to change the structure of retail prices and to require the inclusion of service charges in advertising would be effective in raising consumer awareness of DQ prices and would reduce the risk that prices would rise.

3.2 The evidence we have gathered in our Call Cost Review shows that this has not turned out to be the case.31 Prices have risen significantly, there is little advertising of DQ services and their associated prices, and many consumers are not aware of the prices they may have to pay. As a result, we have found evidence of high levels of bill shock among those who have used a DQ service in the last 12 months. 3.3 To set these findings in context, in the first part of this section, we provide an overview of the DQ sector, including setting out how prices for DQ services have developed since 2013, as well as the information made available to consumers about these charges.

3.4 We then look at the evidence we have gathered about the consumers who use DQ services, the reasons for their calls and how they select the DQ service they call. As we explain, our evidence shows that the vast majority of DQ callers reported it was important to get the number they needed at the time they call, with the most frequently requested numbers being for health and government/public services. For many, calling a DQ service was the only means available to them to get the number needed. 3.5 We then turn to the information available to consumers about DQ service charges and set out the evidence we have gathered about consumer understanding about how much calls to 118 numbers cost.

3.6 Finally, we set out our finding that these features of the sector, notably high prices, poor price transparency and low consumer price awareness, are causing consumer harm, as evidenced by high levels of bill shock and the increasing rate of complaints about the services. We identify concerns that these features are contributing to affordability issues and may be increasing incentives for fraud and misuse on the 118 range. 31 For the purposes of the review, we collected data from service providers and CPs, and analysed complaints about DQ services received by Ofcom, the Phone-paid Services Authority (PSA) and DQ service providers.

We have also commissioned a quantitative face to face survey carried out by Kantar (2017) (‘2017 Kantar consumer research’), some qualitative in-depth interviews and a mystery shopping exercise.

12 DQ sector overview TNUK is the largest retail provider of DQ services 3.7 By revenue, TNUK accounted for around 60% of all DQ revenues,32 while a further 20-30% is accounted for by BT.33 TNUK also accounted for the largest volume of DQ calls in the UK, followed by BT. In September 2017, they both accounted for [] of retail call volumes. O2 and Virgin Media account for a [] of call volumes, although their combined share of revenues accounts for just over [] of the total sector size by revenue.34 35 Table 2: Percentage share of DQ call volumes and revenues 36 TNUK BT Virgin O2 Others Call volumes Around 40% 20-30 ] 6% [] Call revenues Around 60% 20-30 ] 0.1% [] Source: information requested from providers formally by Ofcom (2017) Call volumes are in steep decline 3.8 Consumers’ use of DQ services is in steep decline.

Overall call volumes have reduced from 7.14 million of calls in Q3 2014 to 1.95 million of calls in Q2 2017.37 This represents an average annual volume decline of 38% between Q3 2014 and Q2 2017. 3.9 Reported DQ revenues have also declined, from £27m in Q3 2014 to £12m in Q2 2017, an average fall of 26% per annum.38 The slower rate of annual decline in revenues reflects service charge increases over the same period. 32 Data collected through notices sent in October 2017 under s.135 of the CA03 requiring various telecoms providers to provide call level data from a specified 14 day period (18/09/2017- 1/10/2017) (‘October 2017 Call level data requests’).118 118 accounts for >90% of all calls made to TNUK DQ numbers - October 2017 Call level data requests 33 118 500 accounts for >90% of all calls made to BT DQ numbers - October 2017 Call level data requests 34 October 2017 Call level data requests 35 [] 36 CP and SP data.

37 September 2017 DQ provider data. Please note that the number of calls is a representation of the current DQ sector [] 38 September 2017 DQ provider data. Revenues in nominal terms.

13 Figure 1: DQ total call volumes (2014-2017) Source: information requested from service providers formally by Ofcom (Sept 2017) The prices consumers pay for DQ services have risen steeply 3.10 Since our decision not to impose a price cap on service charges for DQ services in 2013, DQ prices have risen steeply. 3.11 We estimate that the price of a 90 second call – about the average length of a DQ call - to the most popular DQ number, 118 118, has risen in real terms four-fold from £2.77 in January 2013 to £11.23. We estimate that the price of a 90 second call to BT’s most popular DQ number (118 500) rose from £2.83 to £6.88 in the same period.39 40 3.12 The average DQ call duration (mean) is 96 seconds (around 90 seconds or a minute and half).41 39 The mean average call length for DQ callers was 96 seconds in September 2017.

We have rounded this to a 90 second metric across the time period for reasons of comparison. Overall, 50% of calls are about a minute or less (62 seconds), 75% of calls last less than around two minutes (100 seconds) and only 5% of calls are longer than 4.5 minutes (270 seconds). 40 All historical figures have been adjusted for inflation based on the CPI index. Also, all service charges prior to July 2015 have been calculated by deducting the amount representing the best proxy for the access charge. See section 4, footnote 123.

41 October 2017 Call level data requests.

14 Figure 2: 90 second service charges 2012-201742 Source: information requested from service providers and communication providers formally by Ofcom (Sept, Oct 2017) 3.13 Some providers charge as much as £19.98 for a 90 second call, but there are also much cheaper DQ services available. 43 Virgin Media customers are able to make 10 free calls a day to Virgin Media’s DQ services 44, O2 charges £1.88 for a 90 second call, and BT has cut its prices by over 50% from 1 June 2018 so it now charges £3.10 for a 90 second call.

3.14 However, as set out at paragraph 3.27 below, consumers tend not to shop around to find the cheapest service – the majority either call the only number they know or the first number that comes to mind. Only 3% said that they chose a DQ service because it was the cheapest.

Table 3 Service charges among SPs that account for over 90% of all call volumes (31 May 2018) 1-minute charge 90 second charge45 2-minute charge 118 118 (TNUK) £8.98 £11.23 £13.47 118 500 (BT) £5.50 £6.88 £8.25 42 Some data collected from CPs prior to the current review 43 We are aware of 8 different 118 numbers at present where callers will be charged as much as £19.98 for a 90 second call. 44 Virgin media website advice at time of publication https://help.virginmedia.com/system/templates/selfservice/vm/help/customer/ locale/enGB/portal/200300000001000/article/HELP-2216/Directory-Enquiries-from-your-V irgin-Phone 45 The average length of a DQ call is 96 seconds.

We therefore use 90 seconds as a metric to present comparative service charges, given that service charges vary in structure across DQ providers, and can change over time (source October 2017 Call level data requests).

Our requirement to publish DQ service charges to help raise the awareness of service charges and reduce the risk of price rises has not been effective as there has been little advertising by DQ providers.49 3.17 Evidence gathered from TNUK and BT, which account for the majority of DQ call volumes, shows that they rarely advertise their telephone DQ services, so there is very limited promotion of the service charges associated with the most popular DQ numbers. 3.18 Since July 2015, BT has not advertised its 118 telephone DQ service (including TV/radio, branding and merchandising, sponsorship or public events), other than banner advertising of 118 500 in the BT phonebook published before July 2017.

50 3.19 TNUK last advertised its DQ telephone service (118 118) at the end of 2015. The service was promoted on TV.51 At this time, the service charge of a one minute call to 118 118 cost £5.74 compared to £8.98 currently (May 2018). Although TNUK currently promotes its online directory service (118118.com) and money service (118118 Money), including via TV sponsorship, which helps to promote brand awareness, the regulatory obligation to include 46 Virgin Media provides 10 free DQ calls to its own home phone customers daily. Onward connection restrictions apply. https://help.virginmedia.com/system/templates/selfservice/vm/help/customer/ locale/enGB/portal/200300000001000/article/HELP-2216/Directory-Enquiries-from-your-V irgin-Phone 47 Ofcom’s mystery shopping exercise below tested a separate lower cost number to Telecom2 (118 018).

16 the DQ service charge in such advertising does not apply since this service is not being marketed. On-call pricing information is only provided when using onward call connect 3.20 Many DQ providers offer an onward connect service, whereby they will offer to connect a consumer to the number they have requested. Our consumer research revealed that 30% of DQ users reported that they used the call connect service on their last call.52 For callers using the onward connect service, the caller is charged at the DQ service charge rate for the duration of the call. As a result, the cost of calling a number using call connect is invariably significantly higher than the rate the caller would be charged if they dialled the number directly.

The PSA has set specific guidance for providers whereby they are required to explain the costs of using onward connect to the caller before being put through to the number.53 3.21 The mystery shopping exercise (see Annex 8) that we carried out with seven DQ providers indicates that these providers are complying with the PSA’s guidance in relation to informing callers of the cost of the call connect service.

DQ user overview 3.22 We commissioned consumer research, conducted in November 2017, which focussed on residential users of DQ services.54 Based on the responses to our consumer research, we found 2% of UK adults had used DQ services in the 12 months prior to the research. This rises to 4% among those aged 65 and over.55 52 Kantar quantitative research (2017). Slide 29. 53 Service specific guidance note – Directory Enquiry Services. https://psauthority.org.uk/-/media/Files/PSA/ForBusinesses/Guidance-and-compliance/Explore-our-guidance/Guidance-files/17_D irectory-enquiryservices.ashx?la=en&hash=2FA9CFB8D93CB71E4099385FDE9AB6BCF9FF10E7 54 These are people who have called 118 DQ services in the last 12 months using either a personal mobile phone or home fixed/landline (not paid for by a business).

A small number of these people have also called 118 DQ services using a phone paid for by a business over the last 12 months – however this is in addition to a personally paid for call. 55 Kantar quantitative research (2017), Slide 17.

17 Figure 3: Profile of DQ users Source – Kantar quantitative research (2017) slide 17 3.23 In terms of the reasons why consumers ring DQ services, four in five DQ users (82%) said it was important they received the number they requested, at the time they requested it.56 3.24 Both the consumer research and information from TNUK and BT, the two largest service providers, indicate that consumers use DQ services to request numbers for various public services, businesses and individuals. Our consumer survey showed that the most common numbers requested were those related to health and government/public services (30%) or residential numbers (11%).

Other numbers that DQ users requested included restaurants (9%), utility services (6%) and transport services (4%).57 Our consumer research found that seven in ten DQ users said that they were satisfied with their last experience of calling a DQ service.

Many consumers have no alternative but to call a DQ service that they remember to get the number they need 3.25 Our research shows that a material proportion of users are not able to obtain the number they need by another means. 3.26 Just over four in ten (42%) DQ users said they did not have an alternative way of getting the number they needed on that occasion, for example by using the internet or a phone book.58 DQ users aged 65+ were significantly less likely to have internet access when they 56 Kantar quantitative research (2017), slide 27. 82% said it was very or fairly important that they received the number they requested at the time they made the call, 15% said it was ‘not important’ while 3% did not know or could not remember.

18 made their last call (i.e. 26% of DQ users said they had an internet connection compared to 13% of DQ users aged over 65). Consumers tend to call the only number they know or the first number that comes to mind 3.27 In terms of selecting a DQ service, the consumer research found that callers tended not to shop around and compare charges between providers. We found that they tended to call the only number they knew or the first that came to mind, with only 3% choosing a particular service because it was the cheapest:

31% of DQ users called the only number they knew. A further 26% of DQ users called the first number that came to mind and 14% of DQ users said they called a specific number because they remembered it from advertising.59

On the other hand, as noted above, only 3% said they used a particular DQ service because it was the cheapest and only 1% of DQ users said it offers the best service/knowledge.

3.28 The evidence indicates that consumers who use DQ services, typically do so infrequently and therefore have limited opportunity to become familiar with the cost of making a call, particularly given the pattern of regular price increases since 2013 as shown at Figure 2. Of the 2% of the UK adult population that has made a personal call to a DQ service in the past 12 months almost half (46%) have only made 1 call, 27% made 2 calls and 25% made 3 or more DQ calls.60 Consumer understanding of the level of current DQ prices is very poor 3.29 The evidence we have collected indicates that consumer awareness of the price of calling DQ services is very poor.

Our research indicated that around two-thirds (65%) of DQ users did not know the cost of calling a DQ service before they made their last call. Many of these (43% of DQ users) said they didn’t have any idea of the cost at that point. 61, 62 3.30 Around three in ten non-DQ users were not able to give any estimate of the cost of calling a DQ service from either a fixed or mobile phone, even when provided with a list of potential price ranges.63 Of those able to respond, the average estimates were significantly 59 Kantar quantitative research (2017). Slide 26. 60 Kantar quantitative research (2017).

Slide 20. 61 These are people who have called 118 DQ services in the last 12 months using either a personal mobile phone or home fixed/landline (not paid for by a business).

62 Kantar quantitative research (2017). Slide 48. 43% of DQ users ‘did not know the cost and had no idea what it would be’, 10% ‘did not know the cost but thought it would be good value’, 13% ‘did not know the cost but thought it would be expensive’. 63 To measure current awareness of the cost of calling DQ services we asked all respondents (i.e. DQ users and non-users) how much they thought it would cost to make a call lasting just under a minute to a DQ service (from each of a mobile phone and a residential landline). We considered it appropriate to ask both DQ users (who have used DQ services in the past 12 months) and non-users (i.e.

not used and personally paid for, in the past 12 months) about their price expectations because DQ use is infrequent – many people who may use DQ services in the future will not necessarily have made a call in the last year.

19 below the cost of calls to the most popular DQ numbers. Non-DQ users on average estimated it would cost £1.18 from a home landline and £1.55 from a mobile for a call lasting just under 1 minute. We also found that the average estimates specifically among DQ users were significantly below the cost of calls to the most popular DQ numbers. DQ users estimated it would cost £1.95 for a call from a home landline/fixed telephone and £2.36 from a mobile for a call lasting just under a minute.64 The service charges of most DQ providers are much higher than these estimates.65 Figure 4: Expected cost of a DQ call (lasting just under 1 minute) from a personal mobile/home fixed line for non-DQ users Source: Kantar quantitative research (2017).

Slides 40, 42. 64 Kantar quantitative research (2017). Slides 39-43. 65 The service charge for a call lasting 1 minute to the most popular DQ service 118 118 (TNUK) is £8.98 (May 2018) and other providers charge as much as £15.98 for a 1 minute call. The industry average service charge for a 1 minute call as of September 2017, based on the service charges from BT’s price list, was £6.35. The weighted average service charge (based on the number of calls received by each SP) was £7.54. Only 1-2% of respondents gave an answer at the industry average. Even among DQ users, only 2-3% gave a response at the industry average.

A further 4-6% of DQ users stated an answer that was higher than the industry average. Kantar quantitative research (2017). Slides 40 and 42.

20 Figure 5: Expected cost of a DQ call (lasting just under 1 minute) from a personal mobile/home fixed line for consumers who have used DQ services in the last 12 months Source: Kantar quantitative research (2017). Slides 40, 42. 3.31 As set out in paragraph 3.20, DQ call connect services are charged at the DQ service charge rate for the duration of the call. Our research indicates that most DQ users are not clear about the cost of using the onward call connect service. Around nine in ten (86%) DQ users do not understand the pricing for an onward connect call. Just over one third of DQ users (34%) thought they were charged a fixed connection fee, and/or a per minute rate at the cost that would have applied if they had called directly themselves.66 3.32 DQ users who used call connect in the last 12 months did not have a better understanding of the pricing structure for onward call connection, with 81% of these users not understanding the pricing for an onward connect call.

Around four in ten (39%) DQ users who had used call connect in the last 12 months thought they were charged a fixed connection fee and/or a per minute rate at the cost that would have applied if they had called directly themselves.

Summary findings about the features of the DQ sector 3.33 Despite declines in call volumes, our evidence showed that for the small number of consumers who call DQ services, they offer an important means to get the number needed, with the most frequently requested numbers being for health and government/public services. We found that there are circumstances when consumers are more likely to make use of telephone DQ services, namely where they do not have internet access or where alternative means of finding the information they need are limited. 66 Kantar quantitative survey (2017). Slide 46.

Although there are cheaper services available, consumers tend to call the numbers they most easily remember, and they don’t shop around. Overall there has been little advertising of DQ services and their associated charges by service providers. This means price transparency is poor and many consumers are not aware of the service charges they are likely to pay, at the time that they make the call. 3.35 High prices, poor price transparency, and low consumer awareness of prices has resulted in significant numbers of DQ users experiencing bill shock. The next sub-section sets out the evidence demonstrating consumer harm in the form of bill shock.